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Dr. Mattie McGlothefi Library / Museum
VOLUME XX NO. Villi
COG I C HEADQUARTERS, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
SEPTEMBER 1987
80TH A.NNTJA.L
HOLY CONVOCATION
TO CONVENE
Holy greetings to the saints of
God everywhere.
The year 1987. has offered many
joys and occasions of happiness
in our wonderful Church for
which we are thankful.
It is again my happy privilege
as General Secretary of our great
Church to officially announce
the Eightieth Holy Convocation
of the Church of God in Christ,
November 3-10, 1987, at
National Headquarters, Mem
phis, Tennessee. This promises
to be an exciting occasion and
most glorious, and we look
forward with more anticipation
to the wonderful fellowship and
holy festivities surrounding this
uniiHiial Spiritual retreat Of
aia,aaa-a,a,, aal,,la Irun, at«-a»a*t,«l il,*
world, from all walks of life and
many nationalities will witness
the moving of the Spirit as we
unite together for the glory of
God
The diversity of ministries will
be witnessed, healing, worship,
evangelistic and Spirit filled
services will be the order of the
day. Training services efficiently arranged will be provided
for the edification of the saints.
The Presiding Bishop and
General Board have expressed
deep concern for the total spiritual uplift of the saints and the
projection of the Pentecostal
experience.
The Office of General Secretary
will be prepared to register all
delegates namely, general delegates, persons attending the
General Session and worship
service, but have not been an
elected delegate by their respective jurisdiction to the General
Assembly; and General Assem
bly delegates (persons elected by
their jurisdictional assembly to
deliberate and vote in the
General Assembly).
Our computerized registration
will assist us in several areas.
To better serve the delegates of
the Church, a photo-badge with
certain information will be supplied to every delegate. A daily
computerized printout will furnish us with vital information
on all delegates such as jurisdiction, position, name, address,
hotel where they are staying in
Memphis while attending the
convocation. Also, it will help us
to determine the number of
persons attending the convoca
tion; thereby reflecting numer
ical strength of our Church.
This is a continuation of the
projection for a computerization
of the Office of General
Secretary.
In order to assist in under
writing the cost of the specialized service, a nominal registration fee will be passed on to the
delegates. The revenue from this
operation has enabled the Office
of the General Secretary to cover
its costs from the funds generated and to make a substantial
financial contribution to the
National Church budget as the
record will reflect. The support
of wonderful delegates has made
this possible. We appreciate your
response in the past and request
that you support your church by
renistrrina early, it \^. r< <\\i« -.». «1
,,t nil M\3iiop», please urge trtclr
delegates to register for the
convocation.
The convocation fast will com
mence Sunday, November 1, and
conclude Tuesday, November 3,
with the Special Anointing Services conducted by the Presiding
Bishop assisted by the General
Board and Bishops. Every local
congregation is invited to join in
with the saints who are attend
ing the convocation and fast and
pray for the three designated
days.
On Sunday. November 8, the
high day of our meeting, Bishop
Patterson will deliver the Official Message for this convocation, and the saints of God from
all over the world will fill that
convention center to listen to
God's servant as he brings to us
"the Word from the Lord."
Friday, November 6, will be
Women's Day, presided over by
the saintly Mother Mattie
McGlothen.
All jurisdictions are required to
elect delegates to the General
Assembly from their junsdic
tional assembly in accordance
walil TART \l-»«iVi-Vl\Jt-a li,
subsection 1 and 2" of the
Official Manual of the Church
of God in Christ.
Each jurisdiction is required to
file the list of elected delegates
with the Office of the General
Secretary, which will subsequently certify them to the
General Assembly.
Inasmuch as the jurisdictional
reports are made during April's
meeting, the income runs
extremely low during our
National Convocation. Therefore, it is urgent that each of us
as Bishops, Supervisors and
leaders of our great Church who
are well aware of its financial
needs will give our best support
by bnnging the balance of our
report both for the credential
holder and the membership
report from the churches in our
jurisdiction in order to make a
full report in this meeting.
We love and respect our Presiding Bishop Patterson, who has
successfully led us to new horizons during this administration
and the General Officers of the
Church. We have many wonderful Ri shoos. Supervisors, pas-
aVOW aaaad even \aay aaaazaaa\>a;ra> v*Vaa>
have stood strong in supporting
the financial program of the
Church for many years and
there is no doubt that the same
dedication will be forthcoming
during this time of need.
All delegates are asked to remain
for the colorful Holy Communion and Consecration of newly
appointed Bishops on Monday,
November 9. Also, the General
Assembly session is scheduled
Bishop G. R. Ross
for Monday, November 9. All
delegates are encouraged to
remain to adjudicate the business at hand.
The Office of General Secretary
proudly announces its latest
publication, the OFFICIAL ROSTER OF CHURCHES for the
Church of God in Christ, worldwide. Plan to purchase a copy
at the Registration counter,
COGIC Bookstore, or the Office
. »t Ca-Taa~a-aa\ S,aCTcV»ry KXmca. aa«*»*
church certificates will be provided for churches in each jurisdiction as provided by the Constitution and required by the
Internal Revenue Service.
May we come praying that God
will give us thegreatest outpouring of all times; that the sick will
be healed, souls blessed, backsliders reclaimed and the pentecostal experience perpetuated.
Continued on page 7
PRESIDING BISHOP WARNS MEMPHIS
AGAINST
RARIMTJTTJEL WAGERING
Bishop
J. O. Patterson, Sr
Bishop J. 0. Patterson, Sr.,
presiding bishop of the Church
of God in Christ joined his voice
with other area clergy denounc
ing panmutuel wagering. His
stand against legalizing parimu-
tuel was a fast breaking story.
Currently, Memphis is in the
midst of a great debate about the
benefits and liabilities of devel
oping horse racing, etc Bishop
Patterson made his stand on
ethical and moral grounds. A
joint announcement was issued
by the Church of God in Christ
and the United Methodist
Church Rev William Barley, a
United Methodist pastor
released a statement saying
that, "the judgment of the United Methodist Church affirms
that gambling is a menance to
society."
Our presiding officer is aware of
the many pro and con arguments
concerning the issue. He along
with the other ministers desire
the public be educated that
parimutuel does not really
increase tax revenues. Reports
show that cities featuring gambling usually spend more tax
dollars to support gambling
Horse racing is not a boom
industry. Facts prove that only
a small percentage of people
make money. 90% of all horse
owners loose money. No real
career opportunities develop and
only low paying jobs are created.
Illegal gambling always grows
when legalized gambling
becomes a reality. Parimutuel
gambling adversely affects the
community at large. Currently,
in America 10 million people
suffer the adverse affects of
gambling. 1 of every 5 members
in Gamblers Anonymous is a
teenager The bishop is standing
firmly upon an opposition supported by a strong moral appeal
Bishop's actions will aid a joint
effort being waged by the citys'
concerned business and professional community. There is a
large lobby of persons promoting
the issue. There is a scheduled
gambling referendum on an
October municipal ballot.
Bishop Patterson predicted the
saints will reject the gambling
proposal even without strong
urging from the church. "The
membership has been so
strongly indoctrinated that gam
bling is a sin that we don't need
to take a position on it," said the
presiding bishop. "They automatically will know."
Bishop Patterson is concerned
that our church help maintain
the moral base of the community
whenever possible. He is hopeful
that enough Christian people
will hear his warning and vote
against the establishment of
parimutuel in Memphis The
Church of God in Christ is the
leading denomination in Memphis and must provide necessary
moral leadership.
The Whole Truth hopes this
article will encourage our clergy
everywhere to follow the lead of
Bishop Patterson and make a
moral stand against issues like
parimutuel wagering.

Dr. Mattie McGlothefi Library / Museum
VOLUME XX NO. Villi
COG I C HEADQUARTERS, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
SEPTEMBER 1987
80TH A.NNTJA.L
HOLY CONVOCATION
TO CONVENE
Holy greetings to the saints of
God everywhere.
The year 1987. has offered many
joys and occasions of happiness
in our wonderful Church for
which we are thankful.
It is again my happy privilege
as General Secretary of our great
Church to officially announce
the Eightieth Holy Convocation
of the Church of God in Christ,
November 3-10, 1987, at
National Headquarters, Mem
phis, Tennessee. This promises
to be an exciting occasion and
most glorious, and we look
forward with more anticipation
to the wonderful fellowship and
holy festivities surrounding this
uniiHiial Spiritual retreat Of
aia,aaa-a,a,, aal,,la Irun, at«-a»a*t,«l il,*
world, from all walks of life and
many nationalities will witness
the moving of the Spirit as we
unite together for the glory of
God
The diversity of ministries will
be witnessed, healing, worship,
evangelistic and Spirit filled
services will be the order of the
day. Training services efficiently arranged will be provided
for the edification of the saints.
The Presiding Bishop and
General Board have expressed
deep concern for the total spiritual uplift of the saints and the
projection of the Pentecostal
experience.
The Office of General Secretary
will be prepared to register all
delegates namely, general delegates, persons attending the
General Session and worship
service, but have not been an
elected delegate by their respective jurisdiction to the General
Assembly; and General Assem
bly delegates (persons elected by
their jurisdictional assembly to
deliberate and vote in the
General Assembly).
Our computerized registration
will assist us in several areas.
To better serve the delegates of
the Church, a photo-badge with
certain information will be supplied to every delegate. A daily
computerized printout will furnish us with vital information
on all delegates such as jurisdiction, position, name, address,
hotel where they are staying in
Memphis while attending the
convocation. Also, it will help us
to determine the number of
persons attending the convoca
tion; thereby reflecting numer
ical strength of our Church.
This is a continuation of the
projection for a computerization
of the Office of General
Secretary.
In order to assist in under
writing the cost of the specialized service, a nominal registration fee will be passed on to the
delegates. The revenue from this
operation has enabled the Office
of the General Secretary to cover
its costs from the funds generated and to make a substantial
financial contribution to the
National Church budget as the
record will reflect. The support
of wonderful delegates has made
this possible. We appreciate your
response in the past and request
that you support your church by
renistrrina early, it \^. r< a;ra> v*Vaa>
have stood strong in supporting
the financial program of the
Church for many years and
there is no doubt that the same
dedication will be forthcoming
during this time of need.
All delegates are asked to remain
for the colorful Holy Communion and Consecration of newly
appointed Bishops on Monday,
November 9. Also, the General
Assembly session is scheduled
Bishop G. R. Ross
for Monday, November 9. All
delegates are encouraged to
remain to adjudicate the business at hand.
The Office of General Secretary
proudly announces its latest
publication, the OFFICIAL ROSTER OF CHURCHES for the
Church of God in Christ, worldwide. Plan to purchase a copy
at the Registration counter,
COGIC Bookstore, or the Office
. »t Ca-Taa~a-aa\ S,aCTcV»ry KXmca. aa«*»*
church certificates will be provided for churches in each jurisdiction as provided by the Constitution and required by the
Internal Revenue Service.
May we come praying that God
will give us thegreatest outpouring of all times; that the sick will
be healed, souls blessed, backsliders reclaimed and the pentecostal experience perpetuated.
Continued on page 7
PRESIDING BISHOP WARNS MEMPHIS
AGAINST
RARIMTJTTJEL WAGERING
Bishop
J. O. Patterson, Sr
Bishop J. 0. Patterson, Sr.,
presiding bishop of the Church
of God in Christ joined his voice
with other area clergy denounc
ing panmutuel wagering. His
stand against legalizing parimu-
tuel was a fast breaking story.
Currently, Memphis is in the
midst of a great debate about the
benefits and liabilities of devel
oping horse racing, etc Bishop
Patterson made his stand on
ethical and moral grounds. A
joint announcement was issued
by the Church of God in Christ
and the United Methodist
Church Rev William Barley, a
United Methodist pastor
released a statement saying
that, "the judgment of the United Methodist Church affirms
that gambling is a menance to
society."
Our presiding officer is aware of
the many pro and con arguments
concerning the issue. He along
with the other ministers desire
the public be educated that
parimutuel does not really
increase tax revenues. Reports
show that cities featuring gambling usually spend more tax
dollars to support gambling
Horse racing is not a boom
industry. Facts prove that only
a small percentage of people
make money. 90% of all horse
owners loose money. No real
career opportunities develop and
only low paying jobs are created.
Illegal gambling always grows
when legalized gambling
becomes a reality. Parimutuel
gambling adversely affects the
community at large. Currently,
in America 10 million people
suffer the adverse affects of
gambling. 1 of every 5 members
in Gamblers Anonymous is a
teenager The bishop is standing
firmly upon an opposition supported by a strong moral appeal
Bishop's actions will aid a joint
effort being waged by the citys'
concerned business and professional community. There is a
large lobby of persons promoting
the issue. There is a scheduled
gambling referendum on an
October municipal ballot.
Bishop Patterson predicted the
saints will reject the gambling
proposal even without strong
urging from the church. "The
membership has been so
strongly indoctrinated that gam
bling is a sin that we don't need
to take a position on it," said the
presiding bishop. "They automatically will know."
Bishop Patterson is concerned
that our church help maintain
the moral base of the community
whenever possible. He is hopeful
that enough Christian people
will hear his warning and vote
against the establishment of
parimutuel in Memphis The
Church of God in Christ is the
leading denomination in Memphis and must provide necessary
moral leadership.
The Whole Truth hopes this
article will encourage our clergy
everywhere to follow the lead of
Bishop Patterson and make a
moral stand against issues like
parimutuel wagering.